The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-02-25
HEWITT ON LABOR ORGANIZATIONS.
Extract from the Letter Which Was Sup
pressed at the Request of Governor Hill.

NEW YORK. Feb. 24-Mayor Hewitt today
furnished to the press copies of the letter which
he sent to the Young Mems Democratic Club of
read with the other letters of regret at the club
banquet. on the night Of Washington's birthday
it is alleged, on the ground that passage in it
was intended as reflection Governor HILL
In giving the letter out Mr.. Hewitt said he was
sure that the entire responsibility for the sup
preston of the document, which the committee
had ordered read and given to the press. lay with
President Lee, of the club The letter is dated
Feb. Ii. 1t opens with an acknowledgment of
the receipt of an invitation to attend the ban
quet; regrets that his sickness will prevent him
from doing SO, and wishes the club success in its
aim-.the promotion of the Union and the sue
cess of the national Democracy" It then takes
mp the labor question new force which has
suddenly appeared in politics. and which is put
ting the principles of the party trial and will
destroy it unless boldly confronted and declares
that the party has always held the principle of
the personal liberty of the citizen, including the
right to labor when and where he likes The
letter then says:
within the last five years, however a secret
organization has been growing in strength and
power which seeks to enslave the LABOR of this
country, and make it subject to the irresponsi
BILE domination of men unknown to the people,
who not officers chosen by the people. and
who are not creatures Of law, responsible to free
public opinion and to the constituted authorities
for their action Gradually the leaders of this
! body have succeeded in stamping out all person
al independence on the part of a large number
of workmen of the country by refusing to permit
any person to earn living who is not affiliated
with this secret organization. In this way the
| workmen have been coerced into blind obedience
to irresponsible power, and the condition Of
those who have tried to remain outside Of the
organization is in many cases truly pitiable.
| They are called by opprobrious names. are hunt
ed down from shop to shop, and denied employ
ment the fearful penalty of stopping all
work, however pressing and important
| This is tyranny, against which the Democratic
party have ever struggled, and which it must
| now confront and denounce in no mistaken
| tone. 1t is trne that Democrats holding high
| positions have coquetted with this new and
| dangerous element In politics, and sven obtained
Office by submitting to the humiliation of an ap-
! parent Endorsement of the false and dangerous
| doctrines which have been put in practice at
| such a fearful cost in our own midst, within the
| present month. Unless the Democratic party
| shall at absolutely disown and
| condemn all organizations which seek TO place
laws and deprive the citizen of his right of free
| action, it will perish, it ought to do, and de-
| sire on this occasion to emphasize this issue as
| one to which you and your fellow mem bers
shall direct your attention, in the hope that the
! next State convention and the next national
| convention will condemn, Washington con-
| demred, all secret organizations which under
| take to usurp the functions of the law and de-
stroy the free agency of the citizen"